Vasishtha's Teaching on the Glory of the Tirthas: Pushkara

Verse 1 (padma.3.11.1)

वसिष्ठ उवाच । अनेन तव धर्मज्ञ प्रश्रयेण दमेन च । सत्येन च महाभाग तुष्टोस्मि तव सर्वशः

vasiṣṭha uvāca anena tava dharmajña praśrayeṇa damena ca satyena ca mahābhāga tuṣṭosmi tava sarvaśaḥ

Vasishtha said: By this humility of yours, O knower of dharma, and by your self-control and truthfulness, O greatly fortunate one, I am altogether pleased with you.

Verse 2 (padma.3.11.2)

यस्येदृशस्ते धर्मोयं पितरस्तारितास्त्वया । तेन पश्यसि मां पुत्र याज्यश्चासि ममानघ

yasyedṛśaste dharmoyaṁ pitarastāritāstvayā tena paśyasi māṁ putra yājyaścāsi mamānagha

One whose dharma is such as this, by which you have delivered your ancestors — by that, my son, I recognize you; you are worthy of my regard too, O sinless one.

Verse 3 (padma.3.11.3)

प्रीतिर्मे वर्द्धते तेऽद्य ब्रूहि किं करवाणि ते । यद्वक्ष्यसि नरश्रेष्ठ तस्य दातास्मि तेनघ

prītirme varddhate te'dya brūhi kiṁ karavāṇi te yadvakṣyasi naraśreṣṭha tasya dātāsmi tenagha

My affection for you grows today; tell me, what shall I do for you? Whatever you shall ask, O best of men, that I shall grant you, O sinless one.

Verse 4 (padma.3.11.4)

दिलीप उवाच । वेदवेदांगतत्त्वज्ञ सर्वलोकाभिपूजित । कृतमित्येव मन्ये हि यदहं दृष्टवान्प्रभुम्

dilīpa uvāca vedavedāṁgatattvajña sarvalokābhipūjita kṛtamityeva manye hi yadahaṁ dṛṣṭavānprabhum

Dilipa said: O knower of the truth of the Veda and Vedangas, honored by all the worlds! I consider my purpose already accomplished, in that I have beheld you, my Lord.

Verse 5 (padma.3.11.5)

यदि त्वहमनुग्राह्यस्तव धर्म्मभृतां वर । प्रक्ष्यामि हृत्स्थं संदेहं तन्मे त्वं वक्तुमर्हसि

yadi tvahamanugrāhyastava dharmmabhṛtāṁ vara prakṣyāmi hṛtsthaṁ saṁdehaṁ tanme tvaṁ vaktumarhasi

If I am worthy of your favor, O best of the upholders of dharma, then I shall ask the doubt lodged in my heart — that you should tell me.

Verse 6 (padma.3.11.6)

अस्ति मे भगवन्कश्चित्तीर्थे यो धर्मसंशयः । तदहं श्रोतुमिच्छामि पृथक्संकीर्तनं त्वया

asti me bhagavankaścittīrthe yo dharmasaṁśayaḥ tadahaṁ śrotumicchāmi pṛthaksaṁkīrtanaṁ tvayā

I have, O Lord, a certain doubt regarding dharma concerning the tirthas; I wish to hear it declared by you, point by point.

Verse 7 (padma.3.11.7)

प्रदक्षिणां यः पृथिवीं करोति द्विजसत्तम । किं फलं तस्य विप्रर्षे तन्मे ब्रूहि तपोधन

pradakṣiṇāṁ yaḥ pṛthivīṁ karoti dvijasattama kiṁ phalaṁ tasya viprarṣe tanme brūhi tapodhana

O best of the twice-born, one who performs circumambulation of the earth — what fruit does he obtain, O sage among brahmins? Tell me this, O ascetic.

Verse 8 (padma.3.11.8)

वसिष्ठ उवाच । कथयिष्यामि तदहमृषीणां मत्परायणम् । तदेकाग्रमनास्तात शृणु तीर्थेषु यत्फलम्

vasiṣṭha uvāca kathayiṣyāmi tadahamṛṣīṇāṁ matparāyaṇam tadekāgramanāstāta śṛṇu tīrtheṣu yatphalam

Vasishtha said: I shall tell that which is most dear to the sages; my child, listen with a one-pointed mind to what fruit lies in the tirthas.

Verse 9 (padma.3.11.9)

यस्य हस्तौ च पादौ च मनश्चैव सुसंयतम् । विद्या तपश्च कीर्तिश्च स तीर्थफलमश्नुते

yasya hastau ca pādau ca manaścaiva susaṁyatam vidyā tapaśca kīrtiśca sa tīrthaphalamaśnute

He whose hands, feet, and mind are well controlled, who possesses learning, austerity, and fame — he obtains the fruit of the tirthas.

Verse 10 (padma.3.11.10)

प्रतिग्रहादुपावृत्तः संतुष्टो नियतः शुचिः । अहंकारनिवृत्तश्च स तीर्थफलमश्नुते

pratigrahādupāvṛttaḥ saṁtuṣṭo niyataḥ śuciḥ ahaṁkāranivṛttaśca sa tīrthaphalamaśnute

One who has turned away from accepting gifts, who is content, self-disciplined, pure, and free from egotism — he obtains the fruit of the tirthas.

Verse 11 (padma.3.11.11)

अकल्किको निराहारोऽलब्धाहारो जितेंद्रियः । विमुक्तः सर्वदोषैर्यः स तीर्थफलमश्नुते

akalkiko nirāhāro'labdhāhāro jiteṁdriyaḥ vimuktaḥ sarvadoṣairyaḥ sa tīrthaphalamaśnute

One free from guile, without craving for food, content with what comes unsought, of mastered senses, and freed from every fault — he obtains the fruit of the tirthas.

Verse 12 (padma.3.11.12)

अक्रोधनश्च राजेंद्र सत्यशीलो दृढव्रतः । आत्मोपमश्च भूतेषु स तीर्थफलमश्नुते

akrodhanaśca rājeṁdra satyaśīlo dṛḍhavrataḥ ātmopamaśca bhūteṣu sa tīrthaphalamaśnute

O lord of kings, one free from anger, of truthful conduct, of firm vows, and who regards all beings as equal to himself — he obtains the fruit of the tirthas.

Verse 13 (padma.3.11.13)

ऋषिभिः क्रतवः प्रोक्ता देवेष्वपि यथाक्रमम् । फलं चैव यथातत्त्वं प्रेत्य चेह च सर्वशः

ṛṣibhiḥ kratavaḥ proktā deveṣvapi yathākramam phalaṁ caiva yathātattvaṁ pretya ceha ca sarvaśaḥ

The sages have declared, in due order, the sacrifices fit even for the gods, and their fruit truly, both hereafter and here, in every respect.

Verse 14 (padma.3.11.14)

न ते शक्या दरिद्रेण यज्ञाः प्राप्तुं महीपते । बहूपकरणा यज्ञा नानासंभारविस्तराः

na te śakyā daridreṇa yajñāḥ prāptuṁ mahīpate bahūpakaraṇā yajñā nānāsaṁbhāravistarāḥ

But, O lord of the earth, these sacrifices cannot be attained by a poor man; sacrifices require many implements and a vast array of varied materials.

Verse 15 (padma.3.11.15)

प्राप्यंते पार्थिवैरेते समृद्धैर्वा नरैः क्वचित् । न निर्धनैर्नरगणैरेकात्मभिरसाधनैः

prāpyaṁte pārthivairete samṛddhairvā naraiḥ kvacit na nirdhanairnaragaṇairekātmabhirasādhanaiḥ

These are obtained by kings, or sometimes by prosperous men — never by poor, unaided folk acting alone, without resources.

Verse 16 (padma.3.11.16)

यो दरिद्रैरपि विधिः शक्यः प्राप्तुं जनेश्वर । तुल्यो यज्ञफलैः पुण्यैस्तं निबोध महीपते

yo daridrairapi vidhiḥ śakyaḥ prāptuṁ janeśvara tulyo yajñaphalaiḥ puṇyaistaṁ nibodha mahīpate

But, O lord of men, there is a rite which even the poor can attain, equal in merit to the sacred fruits of sacrifice — understand that, O lord of the earth.

Verse 17 (padma.3.11.17)

ऋषीणां परमं गुह्यमिदं धर्म्मभृतां वर । तीर्थाभिगमनं पुण्यं यज्ञैरपि विशिष्यते

ṛṣīṇāṁ paramaṁ guhyamidaṁ dharmmabhṛtāṁ vara tīrthābhigamanaṁ puṇyaṁ yajñairapi viśiṣyate

O best of the upholders of dharma, this is the supreme secret of the sages: pilgrimage to the tirthas is sacred, and it surpasses even sacrifices.

Verse 18 (padma.3.11.18)

अनुपोष्य त्रिरात्राणि तीर्थाभिगमनेन च । अदत्वा कांचनं गाश्च दरिद्रो नाम जायते

anupoṣya trirātrāṇi tīrthābhigamanena ca adatvā kāṁcanaṁ gāśca daridro nāma jāyate

One who has not observed a three-night fast, has not gone on pilgrimage to the tirthas, and has not given gold and cows in charity — such a one is truly called poor.

Verse 19 (padma.3.11.19)

अग्निष्टोमादिभिर्यज्ञैरिष्ट्वा विपुलदक्षिणैः । न तत्फलमवाप्नोति तीर्थाभिगमनेन यत्

agniṣṭomādibhiryajñairiṣṭvā vipuladakṣiṇaiḥ na tatphalamavāpnoti tīrthābhigamanena yat

Even by performing sacrifices such as the Agnishtoma with lavish sacrificial fees, one does not obtain the fruit that comes from pilgrimage to the tirthas.

Verse 20 (padma.3.11.20)

नृलोके देवलोकस्य तीर्थं त्रैलोक्यविश्रुतम् । पुष्करं तीर्थमासाद्य देवदेवसमो भवेत्

nṛloke devalokasya tīrthaṁ trailokyaviśrutam puṣkaraṁ tīrthamāsādya devadevasamo bhavet

In the world of men there is a tirtha of the world of the gods, renowned throughout the three worlds — having reached the tirtha of Pushkara, one becomes equal to the God of gods.

Verse 21 (padma.3.11.21)

दशकोटिसहस्राणि तीर्थानां वै महीपते । सान्निध्यं पुष्करे येषां त्रिसंध्यं सूर्यवंशज

daśakoṭisahasrāṇi tīrthānāṁ vai mahīpate sānnidhyaṁ puṣkare yeṣāṁ trisaṁdhyaṁ sūryavaṁśaja

O lord of the earth, O scion of the solar race, ten billion tirthas maintain their presence at Pushkara at all three daily junctures.

Verse 22 (padma.3.11.22)

आदित्या वसवो रुद्रा साध्याश्च समरुद्गणाः । गंधर्वाप्सरसश्चैव तत्र सन्निहिताः प्रभो

ādityā vasavo rudrā sādhyāśca samarudgaṇāḥ gaṁdharvāpsarasaścaiva tatra sannihitāḥ prabho

The Adityas, the Vasus, the Rudras, the Sadhyas together with the Maruts, and the Gandharvas and Apsarases too — all of these, O Lord, are present there.

Verse 23 (padma.3.11.23)

यत्र देवास्तपस्तप्त्वा दैत्या ब्रह्मर्षयस्तथा । दिव्ययोगा महाराज पुण्येन महता द्विजाः

yatra devāstapastaptvā daityā brahmarṣayastathā divyayogā mahārāja puṇyena mahatā dvijāḥ

There, O great king, O twice-born, the gods performed austerity, and so did the Daityas and the Brahmarshis, through divine yoga, with great merit.

Verse 24 (padma.3.11.24)

मनसाप्यभिकामस्य पुष्कराणि मनीषिणः । पूयंते सर्वपापानि नाकपृष्ठे च पूज्यते

manasāpyabhikāmasya puṣkarāṇi manīṣiṇaḥ pūyaṁte sarvapāpāni nākapṛṣṭhe ca pūjyate

For whoever even mentally desires it, O wise one, Pushkara washes away all his sins, and it is worshipped even on the surface of heaven.

Verse 25 (padma.3.11.25)

अस्मिंस्तीर्थे महाभाग नित्यमेव पितामहः । उवास परमप्रीतो देवदानवसंमतः

asmiṁstīrthe mahābhāga nityameva pitāmahaḥ uvāsa paramaprīto devadānavasaṁmataḥ

At this tirtha, O greatly fortunate one, the Grandsire Brahma ever dwelt, supremely pleased, honored by gods and demons alike.

Verse 26 (padma.3.11.26)

पुष्करेषु महाभाग देवाः सर्षिपुरोगमाः । सिद्धिं परमिकां प्राप्ताः पुण्येन महतान्विताः

puṣkareṣu mahābhāga devāḥ sarṣipurogamāḥ siddhiṁ paramikāṁ prāptāḥ puṇyena mahatānvitāḥ

O greatly fortunate one, at Pushkara the gods, led by the sages, endowed with great merit, attained the highest accomplishment.

Verse 27 (padma.3.11.27)

तत्राभिषेकं यः कुर्यात्पितृदेवार्चने रतः । अश्वमेधाद्दशगुणं प्रवदंति मनीषिणः

tatrābhiṣekaṁ yaḥ kuryātpitṛdevārcane rataḥ aśvamedhāddaśaguṇaṁ pravadaṁti manīṣiṇaḥ

One who performs the ritual bath there, devoted to worshipping the ancestors and gods — the wise declare this to be tenfold the fruit of the Ashvamedha sacrifice.

Verse 28 (padma.3.11.28)

अप्येकं भोजयेद्विप्रं पुष्करारण्यमाश्रितः । तेनैति पूजिताँल्लोकान्ब्रह्मणः सदने स्थितान्

apyekaṁ bhojayedvipraṁ puṣkarāraṇyamāśritaḥ tenaiti pūjitā~llokānbrahmaṇaḥ sadane sthitān

Even if one, dwelling in the Pushkara forest, feeds but a single brahmin, by that alone he attains the honored worlds that abide in Brahma's realm.

Verse 29 (padma.3.11.29)

सायंप्रातः स्मरेद्यस्तु पुष्कराणि कृतांजलि । उपस्पृष्टं भवेत्तेन सर्वतीर्थेषु पार्थिव

sāyaṁprātaḥ smaredyastu puṣkarāṇi kṛtāṁjali upaspṛṣṭaṁ bhavettena sarvatīrtheṣu pārthiva

O king, one who, morning and evening, remembers Pushkara with joined hands — by that he becomes as one who has touched all the tirthas.

Verse 30 (padma.3.11.30)

जन्मप्रभृति यत्पापं स्त्रियो वा पुरुषस्य वा । पुष्करे गतमात्रस्य सर्वमेव प्रणश्यति

janmaprabhṛti yatpāpaṁ striyo vā puruṣasya vā puṣkare gatamātrasya sarvameva praṇaśyati

Whatever sin, from birth onward, of a woman or of a man — upon merely reaching Pushkara, all of it is utterly destroyed.

Verse 31 (padma.3.11.31)

यथा सुराणां सर्वेषामादिस्तु मधुसूदनः । तथैव पुष्करो राजन्तीर्थानामादिरुच्यते

yathā surāṇāṁ sarveṣāmādistu madhusūdanaḥ tathaiva puṣkaro rājantīrthānāmādirucyate

Just as Madhusudana is first among all the gods, so too, O king, Pushkara is declared first among the tirthas.

Verse 32 (padma.3.11.32)

उष्ट्वा द्वादशवर्षाणि पुष्करे नियतः शुचिः । क्रतून्सर्वानवाप्नोति ब्रह्मलोकं च गच्छति

uṣṭvā dvādaśavarṣāṇi puṣkare niyataḥ śuciḥ kratūnsarvānavāpnoti brahmalokaṁ ca gacchati

Having dwelt at Pushkara for twelve years, disciplined and pure, one obtains the fruit of every sacrifice and goes to Brahmaloka.

Verse 33 (padma.3.11.33)

यस्तु वर्षशतं पूर्णमग्निहोत्रमुपाश्नुते । कार्तिकीं वा वसेदेकां पुष्करे सममेव तत्

yastu varṣaśataṁ pūrṇamagnihotramupāśnute kārtikīṁ vā vasedekāṁ puṣkare samameva tat

One who performs the Agnihotra rite for a full hundred years, or dwells at Pushkara for a single month of Kartika — the two are equal indeed.

Verse 34 (padma.3.11.34)

दुष्करं पुष्करे गंतुं दुष्करं पुष्करे तपः । दुष्करं पुष्करे दानं वस्तुं चैव सुदुष्करम्

duṣkaraṁ puṣkare gaṁtuṁ duṣkaraṁ puṣkare tapaḥ duṣkaraṁ puṣkare dānaṁ vastuṁ caiva suduṣkaram

It is hard to reach Pushkara; hard is austerity at Pushkara; hard is giving in charity at Pushkara; and hardest of all is to dwell there.

Verse 35 (padma.3.11.35)

त्रीणि शृंगाणि शुभ्राणि त्रीणि प्रस्रवणानि च । पुष्कराण्यादि तीर्थानि न विद्मस्तत्र कारणम्

trīṇi śṛṁgāṇi śubhrāṇi trīṇi prasravaṇāni ca puṣkarāṇyādi tīrthāni na vidmastatra kāraṇam

Three bright peaks are there, and three springs — Pushkara, first among the tirthas — we do not know the reason for it.

Verse 36 (padma.3.11.36)

उष्ट्वा द्वादशवर्षाणि नियतो नियताशनः । स मुक्तः सर्वपापेभ्यो सर्वक्रतुफलं लभेत्

uṣṭvā dvādaśavarṣāṇi niyato niyatāśanaḥ sa muktaḥ sarvapāpebhyo sarvakratuphalaṁ labhet

Having dwelt there for twelve years, disciplined and restrained in diet, one is freed from all sins and obtains the fruit of every sacrifice.